Circular-kniting machine.



H. E. HOUSEMAN.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

AIPPLICATION FILED MAR. 5. 191a.

Patent-ed Dec. 24, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

//VV/V7'0/? Ham/d5 Houseman 1 Afro/ME y.

H. E. HOUSkMAN.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. b. 1918' Patented v Dec. 24, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

flYVE/VTOR fi/aro/d E. b ouse/72am H. E. HOUSEMAN.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 5. 191a.

WITNESS.

Patented Dec. 24,1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

flaw/d E. Houseman H. E. HOUSEMAN.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR- 5. I9I8- I 1 88,594. Patented I Dec. 24, 1918.

4 SHEETSSHEET 4.

- MVE/YTO/P W/TA/E-SS: Harv/d E Houseman:

JITOIF/VEK HAROLD E. HoUsEMAN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO s'rANDARD MACHINE coMPANY, F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A "CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

CIRCUIiAR-KNITTING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

A pplicati on filedfiarch 5, 1918. Serial No. 220,436.

. Z '0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HAROLD E. HoUsEMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, and

State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Circular-Knitting Machines, of which the following is a.

full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, whlch form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to independent needle cylinder knitting machines. of that class extending throughout one-half the circumference of the needles are in operative position and these needles are progressively thrown out of action, and then progressively thrown into action, by means of pickers. The invention, however, is not limited in its application to the type of machine in which the needles are so operated by pickers, but isapplicable to any circular machine which is intended periodically to be given an os-' cillatory motion.

The object of the invention, in general, is to make possible an increase in the average speed of oscillation relatively to the speed of rotation above that which has heretofore been deemed practicable and, as a means toward effecting this result, to vary the speed of oscillation along predetermined fractional parts of each oscillatory movement so as to increase or decrease its speed, during such fractional parts of the movement, above or below the average speed of oscillation. The advantages of a machine having this capacity will be explained in connection with the articular description .of the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a plan view, partly in diagram, of my improved motion-converting mecha nism. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal section on the line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view through the needle cylinder and appurtenant mechanism. Fig. 5 is a diagram on which are plotted the speed varia tions of different oscillatorv motions. Fig.

6 is an enlarged diagram of a part of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a View, similar to Fig. 3, of a modification. Fig. 8 is. an elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 7. v 4

a is the frame of the machine and b the bed platefor the needle cylinder, cam ring and appurtenant mechanism. The needle cylinder 0 has secured to its lower end the driven gear 03 (which is actuated as hereinafter described) resting directly upon the ring e within the bed 2)..

The rotatable needle cylinder 0 is provided with vertical radial slots extending inward from its outer wall, the needles f, g

extending within these slots and being movable upward therein to render them inactive, as is well understood in the art. Supported on the top of the bed plate is the cam ring it which carries the knitting cams for actuating the needles.

' as is well understood, during the knittin of the leg of the stocking and during the knitting of that part of the stocking between the heel and toe, the needle cylinder is continuously rotating and all the needles are down and in action. During the knitting of the heel and toe, the needle cylinder is oscillated and the needles g extending throughout one'half the circumference of the needle bed, usually called the rear bank of needles, are initially thrown out of action. This maybeetfected by providing the needles g with long butts and causing a cam to be moved into position to engage all the long butt needles and move them up out of action. During the oscillation of the needle cylinder, the needles f extending throughout the remaining semi-circumference of the needle bed (that is,'the front bank of needles) are thrown out of action one at a time, first at one end of the semi-circumference and then at the other end, and so on alternately until only a limited number of needles in the central part of the front bank is in action. The needles are then thrown back again into action one at a time in the reverse order in which they are thrown out. This operation is effected by means of pickers, 20 and 21, one example of which may be found in the patent issued to Harry A. Houseman, December 12, 1916, No. 1,207,757.

The above described mode of operation is typical of circular machines of the rotary needle cylinder type. All of them have a common serious disadvantage. The speed of os- PatentedDec. 2a, 1918.

a construction, reference may be made tothecillation must reduced very much below'j .the speed of rotation,thereby much increasing the time required to knit a complete stocking. If it is attempted to speed up.

the machine during oscillation, the pickers will be rendered inoperative, It being 1mpossible to devise any construction of pickers which will be operative if the speed of oscillation exceeds a maximum which is recognized by the artand to which all machines -are'- adapted! Specifically, it is found impracticable to maintain during -oscillation'a speed higher, relative tothe highest practicable speed of rotation, than approximately one to fiveythat is, one complete'oscillation relative to five complete rotations Houseman patent hereinbefore mentioned.

It is well known to mathematiciansand to mechanical engineers t-hatwhen a moven'ient f rotation is converted into a movement of scillation, the part oscillated has a certain speedwhich has a certain constant variation. Generally speaking, this speed is zero at the dead center of the crank, then increases until. it reaches its maximum, and

y then slows down until it again reaches zero mum upon the completion of (say) one--.

at the opposite dead center of the crank.

{The relative speed, nearthe beginning of each oscillatiomis extremely slow, but there'- after very rapidly increases until it approaches, but does; not quite reach, its maxisixth of its stroke. It will be understood that in a knitting machine the needle cylinder has precisely the differential speed abovedescribed. Bearing in mind that the pickers operate upon the needles during the first third of each stroke of oscillation or reciproca-tion, it will be understood that during the latter part of the dperation of the pickers, they are operating the butt-s of needles which are moving close to their maximum circumferential speed. y The condition may be more clearly understood b referenceto the diagram, Fig. 5, reference heing made first to the dotted line at, as distinguished from the broken line y and the solid line a. The horizontal base line represents the time elapsing during a num ber of complete rotations of the needle cylinder, the Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4t and 5 representing the number of rotations. Each unit is conveniently divided into eighths, and from the points of division are projected vertical lines. The dotted line a: is a curve plotted to show the-variation in speed of a crank-oscillated member on the assumption that the I machineis gearedone to four; that 1s, one complete oscillation to four complete rotations. The relative speed of oscillation during, each period of time required to make one eighth of one completerotation is represented by the vertical distance between the two points where the line at intersects two adjacent vertical lines; It will be observed that during the time required to make the first eighth of the first rotation, the speed of oscillation is little more than zero, but that, after the time required to make (say) onehalf a rotation has elapsed, and the oscillating member has moved little more thanv one-sixth of its stroke, the speed of oscillation is already closely approaching its maximum and has already become so great as to be beyond that allowable for safe operation of the pickers. As will be observed from the drawings, the pickers do not complete their operation until the completion of about one-third of a stroke, w indicating the picker safely line below which a certain speed must not be exceeded.

When, however, the ratio of oscillation is reduced to one to five, the travel of the oscil latory member is represented by the curved broken lin y. It will'be observed, by refer ence to the diagram, that not only is the average speed of travel of theoscillatory member reduced, butthe approach toward maximum speed is more slow and that its speed is no greater, after it has completed about onethird of its stroke, than its speed, when geared one to four, after it had completed little more than one-sixth of its stroke. It will be thus understood why the pickers will operate with certainty and safetywhen the speed of oscillation relatively to the speed of rotation is one to five, whereas theirsafe and certain operation cannot be secured with a relative speed of one to four.

The specific object of my invention is. toincrease the average speed of oscillation while so limiting the speed in that part of the movement during which the pickers are operative as to enable the pickers to perform their function with safety and certainty. It is clear, from the foregoing explanation, that this cannot be done so long as the oscillatory motion of the-needle cylinder is efl'ected by means of a crank and I have therefore abandoned the crank as a part of the power transmitting means and have substituted other power' transmitting means, as will hereinafted be particularly described;

The gear at, which, as hereinbefore described, is secured to the needle cylinder, is

matically operating means .(not herein shown) may be shifted into engagement with either a constantly rotating pinion m or a constantly oscillating inion 11,, both loose on the clutch shaft. P nion m is constantly rotated by being continually in mesh with a spur gear 9 secured to a rotatingshaft 1". Attached to gear is a bevel gear 8 which is driven by abevel PIIIIOII't on a driving shaft u. As far as thus described,'

the constructionis not essentially difierent from what is old and "well" known, but the following novel mechanism is employed to impart a movement of oscillation to the which is a reciprocating or rocking framecomposed of two arms 14: and 15 provided respectively with rollers 16 and 1 7 engaging respectively the peripheries of cams 10' and 11. The arm 14 of the rocking frame carries a curved rack or segmental gear 18, which meshes with the pinion n.

In the embodiment of my invention herein shown, the parts are so proportioned that when the needle cylinder is driven from the 1 rotarypinion' m'it will be given four com-.

plete rotations in the same time that it is oscillated back and forth when driven from the oscillatory pinion n. Further, the cams 10 and 11' are so shaped thatat each oscil- This oeration is latory stroke of the needle cylinder, it will pick up speed rather rapidly and, maintain, for about one-third the length of its stroke, a speed substantially less than the average speed and a speed sufficiently low to permit the pickers tooperate with certainty and safety, after-which the speed is-maintained above the average and at its maximum until the oscillatory stroke is nearly completed, there being then a rapid drop in the speed until it reaches zero at the end of'the stroke. Kllustrated by the full line .2 in Fi s. 5 and 6. in eac up more'rapidly than in a four to one crank motion, as represented byithe line m, but that the speed soon dropsbehind the crank motion speed and is maintained behind until after the line rises above the picker safety line w, after which the speed is increased to its maximum and is maintained at its maximum until near the end-of its stroke.

The lines a: and zhave thefsame comparative characteristics in their downward bends, which represent the return strokein the oscillation of the-needle cylinder, a representing the ,picker safety line on this stroke. It will also be observed that the maximum speed .represented by the line 2 below the picker safety line to in the advance stroke of oscillation is actually less than the maximum speed below that line It will be observed that, oscillatory stroke, the speedpicks I represented by the line y, although theline y represents aslower average speed, as hereinbefore described. I Y

The drawing illustrates with approximate accuracy the shape of the cams 10 and 11 that will produce a v'ariablespeed of oscillation corresponding to that indicated by theline a; but any skilled engineer may plot the curve of his speed line to suit the conditions of ,hispar ticular machine and then lay out his cams accordingly; the advantage of I my construction being that the designer 1s not limited to the precise speed-variatlons imposed by -a crank motion.

- It will be clear, from the foregoing description, that, by a limited reconstruction, in accordance with my invention, of the driving mechanism of any rotary-oscillatory circular knitting machine, the average speed of oscillationrelative to the speed of rotation may beincreased while at the same time the maximum speed of movement 'of the needles while the pickers are in operation will not be increased, but may actually be decreased so as to increase the working margin of safety. .It is clear that the time-required to knit a complete stocking may thus be materially reduced and the capacity of the machine thereby lie-materially increased.

While I have illustrated mechanism proportioned, to drive the needle cylinder so that it will oscillate back and forth once in the time required for four complete rotations, the invention is of course not limited to this particular ratio, it being clear that the ratio of oscillation to rotation, as well as the speed variation above andbelow the predetermined average, depends upon the proportioning of the driving elements and the [shape of the cams, whichare within the range of mechanical skill. Thus, itjis practicable, although much less, desirable,

to so shape the cam that in theoscillation of the-needle cylinder it will speed up, as it leaves its dead center, very suddenly, and will slow down, as it approaches its dead center, very suddenly. Thereby it is possible, with a given ratio of rotati'onto oscillation,.to reduce the'speedof the needle cylinder, during the operation of the pickers, somewhat below that which it would have if actuated by a crank motion. The wear and tear on the driving and driven parts would be such, however, in this modification', due to sudden changes of speed, as

to make' it comparatively undesirable, al-

I have so shaped the cam face of the cam 7 members, 10 and 11, that when either cam member is positively actuating its corresponding roller 16 or .17, the other roller ishugging the cam faceof the other cam member, thereby msurmg the smooth operation of the mechanism and, in particular, preventing the rocking frame 14'15 jumping forward, by the momentum of the driven parts, duringtheslowing down movement, as would be the case if it were not restrained from so doing by the cam member which, at the time, was not actually driving. Where, therefore, in the claims, I specify a cam without qualification, I mean to inelude either the preferred double cam 1()-11 or the single cam 100, or any mechanical ing to the pinion n. 21, 21, are guides fixed on the frame of the machine, in which slide the ends of the frame 140.

While the part 0 is deslgnated' the needle cylinder, it is obvious that the invention is applicable to that type of circular knitting machine wherein the needle cylinder is sta"- tionary and the cam ring or cylinder rotates. In such machines, so far as concerns my invention, the cam ring or cylinder would be the equivalent of the needlecylinder of the rotary needle cylinder type.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect'by Letters Patent is:

1. In a circular knitting machine, in combination, a needle cylinder turnable-on its axis, rotary driving means, driven means operatively connected with the needle cylinder, and connections between the driving means and the driven means adapted to convert the rotary movement of the former into an oscillatory movement of the latter, said motion-converting connections comprising a cam the shape of whose operative face determines the-variation in the speed of oscillation. v

In a c rcular knitting machine, in com- I bination, a needle cylinder turna'ble on its axis, rotary driving means, oscillatory driven means, rotary driven means, clutch shifting mechanism whereby either of said driven means may be operatively connected with the needle cylinder, and driving connections between the driving means and the oscillatory driven means, said driving connections comprising a cam the shape of whose operative face-determines the variation in the speed of oscillation.

3. In a circular knitting machine, in combination, a needle cylinder turnable on its axis, rotary driving means, driven means operatively connected with the needle cylinder, and connections between the driving means and the driven means adapted to convert the rotary movement of the former into an oscillatory movement of the latter, said motion-converting connections comprising a cam having an operative face shaped to impart to the driven means a relatively slow movement throughout the first and shorter part of each stroke and a relatively rapid movement during most of the remaining and longer part of each stroke, whereby the average speed of oscillation may be maintained relatively high while maintaining a relatively slow speed throughout that part of the period of oscillation during which the needles are progressively rendered active'and inactive.

4. In a circular knitting machine, in combination, a needle cylinder turnable on its axis, rotary driving means, oscillatory driven means, rotary driven means, clutch shifting mechanism whereby either of said .driven means may be operatively connected with the needle cylinder, anddriving connections between the drivingmeans and the oscillatory driven means, said driving connections comprising a cam having an operative face shaped to impart to the oscillatory driven means a relatively '.slow movement during the first and shorter part 'of each stroke and a relatively rapid movementduring most of the remaining and longer part of each stroke, whereby the speed of oscillation may be maintained relatively slow while the needles are being progressively rendered active and inactive while maintaining a high average speed of oscillation.

5. In a circular knitting machine, in combination, a needle cylinder turnable on its axis, rotary driving means, driven means der," and connections. between the driving means and the driven means adapted to convert the rotary movement of the former into an oscillatory movement of the latter, said motion-converting connections comprising mechanism to impart to the driven means an oscillatory motion analogous to that of a crank but characterized by a relatively slower movement duringthe larger part of the first and shorter part of a stroke.

6; In a circular knitting machine, in combination, a needle cylinder turnable on its axis, rotary driving means, oscillatory driven means, rotary driven means, clutch shifting mechanism whereby eitherof said driven means may be operatively connected with the needle cylinder, and driving connections between the driving means and the oscillatory driven means, said driving connections comprising mechanism to impart to the oscillatory driven means an oscillatory motion analogous to that of a crank but characterized by a relatively slower movement during the larger part of a first and shorter part of a stroke.

7. In a circular knitting machine, in combination, a needle cylinder turnable on its axis, rotary driving means, driven means operatively connected with the needle cylinder, and connections between the driving means and the driven means adaptedto convert the rotary movement of the former into an oscillatory movement of the latter,

said motion-converting connections comprisnections comprising'a reciprocating frame and a rotary cam operating theframe and shaped to determine the variation in speed of oscillation of the oscillatory driven means.

' 9. In a circular knitting machine, in combination, a needle cylinder turnable on its axis, rotary driving means, driven means 'operatively connected with the needle cylinder, and connections between the driving means and the driven means adapted to convert the rotary movement of the former into an oscillatory movement of the latter, said motion-converting connections comprising a cam composed of two rotary members and a reciprocating frame and means carr ed thereby engaging the respective actuating faces of the two cam members and cooperating therewith to determine the variation in the speed of oscillation of the driven means.

10. In a circular knitting machine, incombination, a needle cylinder turnable on its axis, rotary driving means, oscillatory driven means, rotary driven means, clutch shifting mechanis whereby either of said driven ineans may e operatively connected with the needle cylinder, and driving connections between the driving means and the oscillatory driven means, "said driving connections comprising a cam composed of two rotary members and a reciprocating frame and means carried thereby engaging the re-' spective actuating faces of the two cam members and cooperating therewith to determine the variation in the speed of oscillation of the oscillatory driven means.

11. In a circular .knitting machine, in combination, a needle cylinder turnable on its axis, a shaft, driving connections between.

the shaft and the needle cylinder, a rotary pinion and an oscillatory pinion on the shaft, clutch shifting mechanism whereby said shaft may be operatively connected with either pinion, 'arotary driving shaft, driving connections therefrom to the rotary pinion, and connections between the driving shaft and the ,oscillatory pinion adapted. to convert the rotary motion of the former into an oscillatory motion of the latter, said motion-convertmg connections 7 comprising a cam the shape of whose operative face determines' the variation in the speed of the oscillatory pinion.

12. In a circular knitting machine, in combination, aneedle cylinder turnable. on its axis, a shaft, driving connections between the shaft and the needle'cylinder, a rotary pinion and an oscillatory pinion on the shaft, clutch shifting mechanism whereby said shaft may be operatively connected with either pinion, a rotary driving shaft, driving connections therefrom to the rotary pinion,

a cam composed of two members and rotatable from the driving shaft, a reciprocating frame geared to the oscillatory pinion, and means carried by the reciprocating frame engaging the respective actuating faces of the two cam members.

13.'In a circular 'knittin machine, in combination, a needle cylin er adapted to be oscillated on its axis, independently operable needles carried by said cylinder, pickers adapted to move said needles into and out Y of operation during the first part of an oscillatory stroke, rotary driving means, driven means operatively connected with the needle'cylinder, and motion-converting driving connections between the rotary driving means and said driven means adapted to oscillate the latter at a relatively slow speed throughout that part of each stroke during which said pickers are so actuating the needles and at a relatively high speed during most of the remaining and longer part of each stroke, whereby the average speed of oscillation may be maintained relatively high while providing for the safe and certain operation of the pickers. I

14. In a circular knitting machine, in combination, a needle cylinder turnable on its axis, a rotary driving means, driven means operatively connected with the needle cylinder, and connections. between the driving means and the driven means adapted to convert the rotary movement of the former into an oscillatory movement of the latter, said motion-converting connections comprising a rotary cam actuated by the drivin means and a reciprocating frame actuated by the cam, said frame comprising two .parts one of which is being positively actuated bythe cam while the other is simultaneously maintained in close relationship to the cam, whereby the driven means'is operated at a redetermined variable speed and restrained rom any movement independent of its driving means.

15. In a circular knitting machine,-in combination, a needle cylinder turnable on its axis, rotary driving means, oscillatory driven-means, rotary driven means, clutch shifting mechanism whereby either of said driven means may be operativelyconnected with the needle cylinder, and driving connections between thedriving means and the oscillatory driven means, said driving con driven means is operated at a predetermined 3 variable speed and restrained from any movement independent of its driving means.

16. In a circular knitting machine, in combination, a needle cylinder turnable on its axis, rotary driving means, driven means operatively connected with the needle cylinder, connections between the driving means I rupted.

and the driven means adapted to convert the 'rotary movement of the former into an oscillatory movement of the latter, an os cillating frame pivoted at one end and engaging an element of the driven means at its other end, two rotary cam members turnable by the driving means on an axis located between the pivot of the frame and said element of the driven means, and means carried by the frame engaging the respective actuating faces of the two cam members so .as to be swung in one direction by one cam member and in the other direction by the other cam member and restrained from independent movement at anytime by the cam member Whose driving function is at such time inter In testimony of which invention, I have hereunto set my hand, at Philadelphia, Pa., on this th day of February, 1918.

' HAROLD E. HOUSEMAN. 

